From ribbons on the trees to a volleyball team dedicated to the cause, October is a month of pink at WHS. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every year WHS steps up to the plate to fundraise for research and create awareness. This philanthropy shows the maturity of our student body; however, awareness and charity should not be limited to one month or one cause.
Opinion |
September was Suicide Prevention Month, yet there were no noticeable events or fundraisers at WHS. According to yspp.org, a resource for preventing youth suicide in America, one in ten teens have attempted suicide, while one in six have strongly considered it. If suicide were not a prominent issue among teenagers, then the lack of recognition might be excusable. However, many students have considered suicide or seen it affect their friends.
Even people who are not directly affected by a problem suffer when the issue is not publicized. By failing to cover a broader set of issues, WHS is failing to create aware students, be it intentional or completely accidental. Rather than teaching students that there is a world full of problems deserving attention and support, we are ignoring issues and inhibiting the development of well-rounded, charitable students. Breast cancer has impacted the lives of many students and faculty at WHS. It deserves prominence at our school, and events like Pink Out are a great way to express our unity. To further strengthen and broaden the minds of our student body, more awareness must be raised. Neglecting most other months of awareness is doing an injustice to those affected and the student body as a whole. |